Following on from 2004’s home made E.P Is It Nothing To You, All Those Who Pass By? Brooklyn based 5-piece Other Passengers packed up and headed for Louisiana to record an album of intense and often disturbing music. Its evident from the beginning that there is a deep emotional current that flows under the surface of these songs, often hidden by the layers of distorted guitars and thunderous drums. It’s only on songs like Heart Attacks that the emotion is laid bare with vocalist Billy Jones’ voice cracking, almost as if he’s fighting back the tears when singing the line “I’ve never been good at waiting on my turn / we all have heartattacks” which is accompanied by a delicate guitar and synth bass line. Another highlight is the hypnotic Wichita, probably the most accesible song on the album, it begins with a mantra-like vocal that builds and transforms into a full on attack on the senses.

The influences are clear for everyone to see; Interpol, Sonic Youth, even Massive Attack, but its a rare and impressive thing when a band can take these influences and twist and mould them into something as unique and mesmerising as the music on display here. It takes time and commitment to get the most out of this record. It would be easy to cast it aside as just another post-punk album to come out of NYC. But there is far more to it than that. The nine songs here convey a whole range of human emotions, all red raw, bruised and battered, on display for everyone to see and by the time the 45 minutes are over you’re left shaken and slightly nauseaus, but feeling compelled to hit the play button again.
78%

Links:
Other Passengers [official site] [myspace]
Something In Construction [official site] [myspace]